List Post, mars 2016 (March)

If you haven’t already, please SIGN UP for my bimonthly Newsletter! (See “Newsletter” under “For Readers”). This month’s edition out very soon!
Announcing a TITLE CHANGE for Book 4, a women’s fiction/psychological suspense novel! It’s no longer called A ZERO-SUM GAME. New title is better and shorter. As you might guess from the below, two characters’ names are Valerie and June. I don’t know how I came up with those names – but they worked.
No travels this month – so I hope to get lots of writing done. Then, I’ve got long weekends away in April, May, and June. Destinations: Texas – bro-in-law’s wedding; North Carolina – a “Sisters in Crime” (writers organization) presentation I’m doing with another Georgia author; Las Vegas – a sis-in-law’s (big) birthday celebration!
Book 5 (work in progress) update: I’m not even ten thousand words in (yet), but it’s taking shape…
Glad to serve as Publicity Chair for the Atlanta Chapter of Sisters in Crime. If you live in the area and receive a “Neighbor Newspaper,” check it for details on our monthly meetings!
Looking forward to connecting with a local reporter about a piece on my book ALL THE ABOVE: MY SON’S BATTLE WITH BRAIN CANCER and its nomination for the Georgia Author of the Year Award in the Memoir/Autobiography category!

Page and Word count (and other things) about my next novel, out soon. It’s finished!

March 1, 2016 0

Wine with Wendy on Wednesday, numéro cinq

This month, Wendy and I met for lunch at another Atlanta French restaurant.

We ordered our wine immediately, but we took a few minutes to order our food. The restaurant is a favorite – I’ve been to parties there – and the salmon salad I had was delicious.

We talked about travels (past and upcoming), schedules (she has a busy one!), movies we’ve seen, and books we’ve read. And, movies we’ve seen based on books – some that we’ve read – and whether we felt they were well adapted to the big screen. I described what’s going on with my books, and revealed the (new) title for my next novel, which is coming out soon.

It’s NOT A Zero-Sum Game, after all. I’ve chosen a shorter, catchier title that fits the story much better. Wendy said she thought it was awesome!

Which made me feel even more convinced that I’ve made the right decision.

Here’s a hint: It’s two words, and describes the main character. I can’t wait to see how it looks on the cover. Who knows, I may have the book in my hands the next time Wendy and I meet (in March) for déjeuner!

February 25, 2016 0

A dozen things I’ve learned from my writers group

Instead of “Pizza and a Movie” (we’re skipping it, today), this post is about another one of my (sometime) Friday activities. For several years, I’ve participated in a writers’ critique group (called the Writers Circle) connected with the Atlanta Writers Group.

It’s facilitated by my friend Gelia Dolcimascolo and meets twice a month at Georgia Perimeter College, now known as Georgia State University Perimeter College (I think). On alternate Fridays, some members meet at area businesses that welcome us, like coffee shops, bakeries and restaurants.

This is a multi-genre group–kind of appropriate for me, as a multi-genre author (something I didn’t plan to be, but there it is). Members are poets, short story and flash fiction writers, nonfiction writers, screenplay writers, and novelists. Genres include fantasy, science fiction, thrillers, literary fiction, women’s fiction, children’s and middle grade, young adult, and others. We read several pages of our work in progress (WIP) aloud to the group, and then discuss, sharing comments and reactions. The idea is to help each other improve, and over the years, I certainly have.

Members at a meeting discussing someone’s work (guess which one is me)

Here are 12 things I have learned (just a partial list, undoubtedly):

How to construct a story arc, and where elements like plot twists belong (thank you, screenplay writers!)
How to tighten my writing (wordy = bad)
How to write believable (and good) dialogue, and that if you don’t need a tag (“he said”), remove it
What to do when I am stuck (write something – anything!)
How to take suggestions and criticism, and use it to improve my story (thick skin = good)
How to dig deep when writing about my own emotions (see ALL THE ABOVE: My son’s battle with brain cancer)
That others can see the problems and issues in my writing (everything from typos to story and character inconsistencies) when I can’t
What genre I am writing in, in a particular work (sounds weird, I know, but when I was working on my novel UNDERWATER–originally titled THE PROJECT–and wondered aloud, “What the heck kind of story is this?”, another member immediately responded, “Suspense, of course!”)
That I can learn something from writers of other genres, even if writing in that genre is not something I could ever do
To take out anything that doesn’t move the story forward, and write only what does (“if you don’t need it, take it out”)
That’s it’s okay to write what you know, and use elements from your own experiences in your work
How to “show, don’t tell” (paraphrasing Mark Twain: “Don’t tell me that the fat lady sings–bring her out, and let her sing!”)

Sometimes, in the midst of all this learning and discussing, things get animated. So, when she needs to, facilitator Gelia rings a bell, to get things back on track (kind of like in the servants’ area downstairs, in Downton Abbey). Recently, she added a plaque next to the bell, in the center of our table:

Are you part of a writers’ critique group, and if so, what have you learned and how have you benefited?

February 19, 2016 4

All the Above is a featured book on a women’s book reviews website!

ALL THE ABOVE is currently being featured by Women’s Book Reviews, a gem of a site that I just discovered through my friend Rona Simmons, author of historical and literary fiction!

Click here to read about the book and about me, and tell your friends about the site. I recently reviewed two books, and I’ve been intrigued by the reviews of others. What a great way to find out about books and get recommendations!

February 11, 2016 0

My new motto, grâce à Steve Martin

One of my “Sisters in Crime,”* a talented editor, posted this quote on Facebook today:

Be so good they can’t ignore you.

– Steve Martin

Good advice for any field, she said. However, I’m going further. I’m making it my (new) motto.

Some things to know about writing books are:

A gazillion other people are doing it;
Not all of those other people are publishing independently (self-publishing) – about half of all books now are self-published, with the other half published by a small, medium, or large press;
No matter who you are, how your work is published, or what you do, it’s very difficult to stand out (not be ignored) – and, if you’ve self-published anything, no matter how good it is, you’re likely to be viewed as not good enough;
People are reading less and less (well, not everybody, but lots) and spending more time watching movies, TV, and on other media;
Even if your work is really, really good, there’s no guarantee it will get noticed.

I’ve self-published fiction and nonfiction, and my (originally self-published) novel UNDERWATER was acquired and rereleased by a traditional publisher.** Somehow, they found it (I didn’t approach them). Was it so good that they – “they” – couldn’t ignore it? I don’t know, but I did the best job I could, writing it.

My next book (ALL THE ABOVE) was already written, edited, and ready for publication when that novel was rereleased. But I waited a few months before publishing it, myself. I wanted it to be so good that it wouldn’t get ignored.

Over the previous two years, I had poured my heart into writing ALL THE ABOVE. I got feedback from my writers’ group, beta readers, and my freelance editor. I made all the recommended changes. I combed through it for mistakes and typos. I paid attention to the details. I wrote the back cover copy, and approved the design created by my cover artist. Last March, I released it in paperback and on Kindle. Since then, it’s been selling steadily and has received 24 Reviews on Amazon.

It’s hard to get noticed, to stand out, and not to be ignored. But I’m inspired now, to be so good that they can’t ignore me.

One word at a time.

*A national mystery/thriller writers organization

**Thomas & Mercer

February 8, 2016 0

Pizza and… the SUPER BOWL!

This weekend’s Pizza Toppings at Corner Pizza:

Chicken
Bacon
Ham

That’s right – no movie this weekend! 😦

We planned to go see The Revenant, and we still do. But since the showtime at our favorite theater was a bit early, we decided to relax and enjoy our “meat-lovers” pizza instead.* We won’t be eating pizza this evening while watching the Panthers and the Broncos (Carolina vs. Denver, in Super Bowl L – “50”). But since tomorrow is my husband’s birthday, we’ll have sandwiches, chips, and cake.

I can’t wait to watch the game (and the commercials!), and no matter who wins, I hope it’s a good one. In honor of it, here’s an (amusing) short excerpt of an article about it that we discussed in my French conversation class this week. I’ll quote this (simple) explanation of the game in French, and then give you the English translation, even though you can probably figure it out, with so many vrais amis (similar words). Words in parentheses are included for extra clarification:

“Sur un terrain de près de 91 mètres sur 49, deux équipes de 11 joueurs se disputent et galopent derrière un ballon ovale. Celui-ci est flanqué d’un lacet de fermeture, qui permet aux joueurs de lui donner un mouvement rotatif indispensable pour stabiliser sa trajectoire…”

“On a field of about 91 by 49 meters [100 by 53 yards], 2 teams of 11 players battle (contend, argue, dispute) and gallop (dash) behind an oval ball. The ball is locked/held together by a (shoe)lace, which permits the players to give it an indispensable rotating (rotary) movement, to stabilize its flight path (trajectory)…”

*Meat-lover’s, since Lent begins on Wednesday. So, for the next 6 weeks, we’ll be eating vegetarian pizzas on Fridays.

February 7, 2016 0

Friday music – to an author’s ears

While checking email over my morning coffee today, I was thrilled to discover that a reader had just posted a 5 star review of my first novel, MAKE THAT DEUX!

“GREAT BOOK!! I LOVE IT!” she said. “I really enjoyed reading this book. I liked all of the different characters and reading about their adventures. It never got boring. It kept me wanting to keep reading and reading. Great story!!!”

She had already read my third book, ALL THE ABOVE, which is nonfiction (a true story), and a very different type of book. Here’s what she said about that:

“I read this book in two days! I felt so many different emotions while reading it. I felt so sorry for the family to have to deal with this horrible and scary situation. Poor Jack having to go through cancer treatments while in the beginning of his college career. The book was very well written and an honest story of how the family coped during this time of tragedy. It showed how the McDermott family relied on their strong faith while so many obstacles were being thrown their way. I loved this book and had a hard time putting it down.”

I thanked her on Goodreads (she’d posted her reviews there, and on Amazon), and asked if she might consider reading my 2nd book, suspense novel UNDERWATER. She replied, “You’re welcome 🙂 I actually already read Underwater last year and loved it as well! I can’t wait to read your next one!”

All of that got my Friday (and my weekend, and month) off to a wonderful start! So, to celebrate, I thought I would share some (very old) photos from my year in Montpellier, France, the experience on which my novel MAKE THAT DEUX is based. (And it’s NOT a true story! Novel = Fiction!)

The handwritten words are grâce à one of my girlfriends, with whom I shared an apartment in Palavas* that year, and the photos come from a collage she made for me:

Me (left), another girlfriend (right), and the teenage son of our program’s directrice, on a visit to Carcassonne…

Like Jenny in MAKE THAT DEUX, sometimes I actually studied!

Our apartment building is still there…

I’m on the right, with 2 girlfriends and the French boyfriend of one!

*Palavas-les-flots, a beach town 20 minutes away, where we lived

February 5, 2016 0

(No) wine with Wendy on Wednesday, numéro quatre

This month, Wendy and I braved the nasty winter weather to meet for lunch at Anis Cafe and Bistro, a French restaurant right here in Atlanta.. We passed on the wine, though (it’s January, after all).

We had skipped the month of December – it was just too busy to get together – and started up again for 2016, after my recent trip to France (for more info, see my post “My trip to France – the REAL story”), and before her upcoming one to London.

Before that, she’s off on a college visit up north with one of her five enfants (kids), that is, if it doesn’t get snowed out. But she recently went skiing, just before Christmas, with her large family. And, as soon as she gets back from London, where she is going this spring with her daughter and daughter’s friend, she’s getting on a plane the very next day (!), and going to the Florida Keys.

“I just have to have two different suitcases packed,” she assured me, as I gave her a look of disbelief. Not that she was going to the Keys, a place I’ve always wanted to go, but that she’s going the next day.

Oh la la.

But she’s young and energetic – and very organized, it seems. For my part, I’ve got three trips “out west” planned this year, and one weekend getaway in North Carolina later this spring.

We chatted about more than travels: our interests and creative passions, our impressions on current events, and even our daughters (see that post on my trip to France).

All in all, it was très amusant: a lot of fun.

January 21, 2016 0

My trip to France – the REAL story

[If you follow my blog, or any of my social media, you know that] I went to the South of France over the holidays. About a month ago, I was just recovering from jet lag, and about to begin a week of adventure over there, with my husband and our youngest, aka Mademoiselle.*

Once back in the U.S. (but being in love with France, and all things French), I was ecstatic to tell anyone who asked (and would listen) where we went (Montpellier, Avignon, and Lyon), what we did, where we stayed, etc. etc.

I could talk for ~~hours~~ a long, long time about our vacation, but, not wanting me to ~~go on and on~~ elaborate/tell stories about it, what most people were satisfied to hear was: “We had a great time!”

And we did.

But before the trip ~~completely~~ in any way fades from my memory, I’ve decided to describe some of our ~~special~~ memorable moments and events.

when, the first evening, we three walked down streets decorated with Christmas lights, and had dinner at a lovely restaurant, Le Petit Jardin, that was closing for the holidays the following day;
when, the next evening, the three of us dined at Les Jardins des Sens, in the hotel of the same name, and it was fantastic;
when we wandered through the town that weekend and had coffee and tea at Mademoiselle’s favorite cafés, where she had gone to study and hang out during the semester;
when I marveled at how Montpellier had changed (and how it hadn’t) since I was there a long time ago on my year abroad, and, when I had moments of déjà vu (except that I HAD already vu‘d), as we explored the city, and wandered around;
when Mademoiselle ~~didn’t mind~~ ~~minded~~ began not to mind again, that I was speaking French to whoever I could, and I did ~~decently~~ ~~fine~~ pretty darn well, practicing my French and communicating with tout le monde, in their native language;
when we wandered around, window-shopping, and going to museums and movies when almost everything was closed on Sundays;
when, after staying at good-to-great hotels in Montpellier and Avignon, my husband and I checked into a fabulous 5-star hotel near our friends’ home in Lyon (Mademoiselle stayed with them) for a few days, near the end of our trip (and we want to stay there again, someday);
when our French friends welcomed us into their home for the holidays, took us to church with them, gave us (very French) gifts, and included us in their family festivities;
when Mademoiselle suggested visiting Palavas-les-flots (the beach town, 20 minutes away from Montpellier, and where I lived as a student) on a Sunday – but, unable to find transportation, we gave up (although we could have taken a taxi, but didn ‘t think of it). But just knowing that Mademoiselle wanted to go there with me was almost enough;
when we ate French cheeses, crêpes, patè, and so much other good food, and drank wine.

So, if you were curious about our trip, but ~~haven’t had time~~ ~~were too shy~~ forgot to ask, but woudn’t mind knowing, there you have it.

*See my “Postcards from Europe” posts, in which I share the postcards I received from all over Europe from Mademoiselle last fall during her semester abroad.

Above: a card we received from our friends after our return home. It’s an image of the Berges du Rhône et Hôtel-Dieu (the banks, or quays and paths, and the hotel on the west bank of the Rhône and the Presque-Isle – peninsula – between the Rhône and the Saône Rivers, which run through Lyon). The Hôtel-Dieu was a hospital for centuries, but is now being converted into a luxury hotel.

January 20, 2016 0

Julie AND Julia

This isn’t a “List Post,” but here’s a few new things, for 2016:

I now have a personal/profile Facebook page (“Julie McDermott“), AND an author/fan page, created some time ago (“Julia McDermott, Author“)!
If you’re my FB friend on the former, please “Like” me on the latter (I’ll probably invite you to, if I haven’t already).
So, ~~should~~ do you call me Julie, or Julia? My legal name (and the one I sign, and write under) is Julia, but call me either one. (See my post, https://juliamcdermottbooks.com/2013/10/29/julie-or-julia/)
Stay tuned for future announcements on publicity about me in the news!
It’s on my personal FB page, but ALL THE ABOVE is a nominee for the 2016 Georgia Author of the Year Award in the Memoir/Autobiography category!
Three trips are on the horizon, so far, and they’re all “out west” – one in April, one in June, and one in September!

“It ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer to.”
– W. C. Fields

January 19, 2016 0